Prescription pups help relieve stress for students

York College freshmen Matt Morrison, Bill Pengelly and Ali Napolitano pet Max, a 6-year-old golden retriever, during a pet-a-dog session in the student union on Wednesday in York, Penn. (Chris Dunn/York Sunday News)

This time of year can be stressful for college students. They're preparing for final exams and eager to get home and see their families.

And they might be want to see their pets, too, said Harriet Hombach, an evaluator with KPETS, Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services of York, Penn.

So resident assistants at York College's Penn/Beard resident complex arranged for KPETS to have some therapy dogs visit campus on Wednesday, inviting students to stop by the student union and spend some time with the pups.

“The dogs love it,” said Hombach. “The kids sit on the floor, the dogs lay on their laps, give them kisses on the face, you name it. It's that unconditional love that the dogs give.”

Keystone Pet-Enhanced Therapy Service handler Harriet Hombach instructs her Labrador retriever Corky to sit as she places signs to direct York College students to a room inside the student union where they could play with therapy dogs on Wednesday in York, Penn. (Chris Dunn/York Daily Record)

Kathy Wagner, area coordinator with resident life, said that the college holds “wellness week” leading up to final exams. Offices and organizations host a variety of activities, from de-stressing through art, making their own stress balls, or visiting a tiki hut in the student union for the “Lei Back and Relax” event.

“A lot of students are extremely stressed right now, especially if they have a lot of finals in all of their classes,” Wagner said. The activities are important to help students get out of their rooms and out of the library, to take a little break from studying, she said.

Wagner said counseling services has worked with KPETS before, and students seem to enjoy having them visit.

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“A lot of students really miss their dogs,” she said.

Students at York College are taking final exams through Tuesday.

York College senior Mickey Collins hugs golden retriever Darby as freshman Erin Baker tempts Darby with a dog toy on Wednesday in the student union at York College in York, Penn. (Chris Dunn/York Daily Record)